It is unfortunate that a few individuals, who were stopped by other participants, got violent. It is also quite possible the violent ones were government plants to discredit the movement and give the police an excuse to move in.

The Guardian; May 9, 2009 - G20 police 'used undercover men to incite crowds'. ""When I was in the middle of the crowd, two people came over to me and said, 'There are people over there who we believe are policemen and who have been encouraging the crowd to throw things at the police,'" Brake said. But when the crowd became suspicious of the men and accused them of being police officers, the pair approached the police line and passed through after showing some form of identification."

The Denver Post; Nov. 7, 2008 - ACLU wants probe into police-staged DNC protest. "When a Jefferson County deputy unleashed pepper spray at unruly protesters on the first night of the Democratic National Convention, he did not know that his targets were undercover Denver police officers. "

The Toronto Star; Aug. 21, 2007 - Police accused of using provocateurs at summit. ""I have no hesitation in saying they were police agents . . . and they were caught red-handed.""

The New York Times; Dec. 22, 2005 - New York Police Covertly Join In at Protest Rallies. "In glimpses and in glaring detail, the videotape images reveal the robust presence of disguised officers or others working with them at seven public gatherings since August 2004. "

You forgot to include the part where they were happy to send YOU into it and not their own kids.....Oh yeah....and let's not leave out the part where they refused to provide armour once the great need for the commodity was identified.

Yeah....them "Mission Accomplished" types....swell group of guys and gals, eh?

No one held a gun to your head and forced you to join the military. It's an all volunteer force.

You would force people to join? If the kids from rich people don't join, how does that hurt you? What else would you like to force people to do? Do tell.

There were no "armored" wheeled vehicles in the US military inventory when we invaded Iraq. The Navy didn't think carrier-based planes were a threat to their fleet right up until December 7, 1941. You go to war with the military you have at the time. They sent the armor as fast as US industry could produce it.

I applaud your success and appreciate your service but you might have some compassion for some of your fellow veterans. Some statistics that might prove enlightening:

Veteran-specific highlights from the USICH* report include:

23% of the homeless population are veterans
33% of the male homeless population are veterans
47% served Vietnam-era
17% served post-Vietnam
15% served pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% were stationed in war zone
25% have used VA homeless services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received an honorable discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug or mental health problems
46% are white males, compared to 34% of non-veterans
46% are age 45 or older, compared to 20% non-veterans

We might ask the question: How many of our Lawrence homeless individuals are veterans?
Depending on the answer your comment: "Nobody thinks or suggests that disabled vets are parasites and part of the problem." might be seen in a different light.

"The ugly truth is that virtually all of the major defense contractors in this country for years have been engaged in systemic fraudulent behavior, while receiving hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money," said Sanders. "With the country running a nearly $15 trillion national debt, my goal is to provide as much transparency as possible about what is happening with taxpayer money."
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/13089

"Sometimes that can be several years unfortunately..." So that might be why we have so many homeless disabled vets. Not all vets get free health care. Homeless services are inadequate; your own link talks about how, for example, 20,000 vets got section 8 certificates
http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/costs/http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/housing.asp
Getting a section 8 certificate does not guarantee finding section 8 eligible housing. Section 8 housing also often requires security deposits and utility deposits. The VA estimates that there are 107,000 homeless vets on any given night. "About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing."
The VA, like other parts of the military, is rife with fraud. Clearly money meant for services which is diverted via fraud is money that cannot be spent on providing services for its intended recipients.
http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2010/VAOIG-10-00004-166.pdf

Another impediment to veterans transitioning to civilian life, which could lead to homelessness, would be the delays in available treatment for PTSD and depression through the VA system. Self-medication (alcohol and/or drug use) may also be a contributing cause.This is probably also a reason veterans are supporting OWS in growing numbers.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/11/local/la-me-0511-veterans-ptsd-20110511

So veteran services are not free for all vets. It can take years to get disability. That's what I said. Also a Section 8 certificate does not mean you'll find a home that accepts a section 8 certificate. And they only gave out 24,000. If there are so many services available for veterans, why do an average of 18 a day commit suicide?

The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex is out of control. Fix our corrupted political and corporate systems so we can spend tax dollars on helping homeless vets find a home instead of spending money on bombing brown people around the world....maybe? I'm guessing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLwrPD...

No. They aren't. Any more than most non-veterans who are homeless are homeless by choice. (The figure is actually less than 6%...which certainly doesn't even come close to being "most".)

It's sad when people like you write nonsense like that...because others will think you're saying something factual, rather than make-believe, and pass it on as true. As a result, homeless veterans (or the homeless in general) will continue to face even more difficulties getting out of homelessness simply because people like you think they "chose" to be homeless. Yeesh.

Excuse me??? That page itself says "The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking decisive action to end Veteran homelessness in five years".

Unlike you, the decision-makers at the VA don't believe that "there is absolutely no reason for a veteran to be homeless". Rather, they recognize that there are numerous reasons and obstacles, and that it's going to take time and effort and funding to deal with them.

You might want to click on the links and actually read about what the various programs do...and why they exist. Contrary to your apparent belief, these programs are not magic bullets. They do not immediately end homelessness. Nor do they expect to.

And I'm still waiting for your evidence. After all, you were the person who made the first claim and I'm asking you to document it. Since you're out there googling the subject, perhaps you don't actually have any such evidence? Heck, we've all been guilty of believing "facts" that turn out to be nothing more than mythology.

Your claim was "Most veterans who are homeless are homeless by choice. There is help available through VA.". There was NOTHING on that website that supported your "most veterans" claim...just your "there is help available through the VA".

Apparently, your "proof" is the existence of a VA website that lists services. Are you arguing that, if a veteran utilizes those services, he immediately won't be homeless. (If it doesn't happen immediately, then people utilizing those services would still be homeless. Hmm.)

Unlike you, the VA obviously thinks it's been lack of services that's the problem, and are now trying to solve that problem. But that doesn't mean there's sufficient resources to provide help to all that request, much less need them or that those services are just needed once and...yippee...the person is no longer homeless. Indeed, the VA provides grant funding to organizations that build housing for homeless veterans. Doesn't that suggest there's insufficient housing for homeless vets right now?

I actually work directly with folks with severe mental illness...and I don't know a single one with PTSD who "chose" to have PTSD. Nor have I worked with a single homeless vet who has chosen to be homeless.

I'm not saying there aren't veterans that choose homelessness. Of course there are. I'm simply saying your "most" claim is a harmful exaggeration...just like claiming most homeless people regardless of vet status are homeless by choice. It's a darned, harmful myth.

Your link only supports the second part of your original post: "There is help available through VA." I've shown you my links. Now you have to point to something that shows that "most veterans" don't want that help because they "choose" to be homeless.

I'm a fellow vet and I think I understand the point Mr. Johanning is trying to make. If he's rated at 90 or 100% disability, then he probably holds no job, pays no income tax, and receives a monthly check from the government to live off of...kind of like a welfare check, eh? He's thrown under the bus with the rest via broad-brush political rhetoric - "we are the 53%". Easy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RAUvZHmTQw

Unfortunately, he wrote that our saying "thank you for your service" was hollow, so I'm assuming it is wasted on him.

But I'm still going to say it to other servicemen and women. And I hope that some of them realize, unlike Mr. Johanning, that I truly mean it. And I still am grateful for his service and sacrifice, even though he apparently doesn't believe that.

Blame the police? Are you freaking kidding me? They are doing their jobs. It's a g-dam shame that they are having to spend their time doing this anyway and now you're blaming this on them? So I guess it's the Oakland Police Department's fault that OWS there effectively shut down the port?
The police are now the bad guys....is that what I am hearing from you Bozo? Seriously??

Gee folks, I have a revolutionary idea, how about we all grow up and quit calling each other names or insulting people. As my grandmother use to say, "If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all." Quite honestly it seems that some people act like they are still in grade school.

Many protestors stop by for short periods of time between jobs. Some bring their families to witness people exercising their Constitutional freedoms and trying to improve their society. Some don't have time to attend personally, but lend moral support to those who do.
Disagree with the OWS message if you like, its_just_math, but don't impugn their motives or their level of responsibility.

I'm part of the .00001% that isn't rich and isn't jealous of what other people have. You aren't a parasite. You are a victim of politicians that put you in the line of fire and don't care if you live or die now. Wall street doesn't owe you, America owes you. Of course, you could go to DC and try knocking on the right doors, but they'd just have the latest models of yourself point their bayonets in your back and escort you to the sidewalk you fought to protect.

Some veterans are part of the movement. Occupy is a diverse movement; people of all political stripes are participating, including about 2% who self-identify as Republicans. A few tea partiers agree with the Occupy movement. Many groups are represented including those on the right and left. In this nation citizens have the right to support non-mainstream political parties.

It must be at least 4 days since you posted that demo-now article from 2009. You're starting to taper off, merrill. Eventually you'll be able to go a whole week without getting all frantic about a President who's been out of office for almost three years now.

Since BOA bought our mortgage, we get free checking and savings with "keep the change", some kind of photo debit card, and a free safe deposit box. We also get the usual internet banking, text for balances, smartphone banking and some other cool perks like automatic bill pay contracts with thousands of companies, and all the major ones in Lawrence..

As for the mortgage, they have always been reasonable, even when our paychecks get a little far from mortgage day. They honor their grace periods as you would expect.

I wish they had more branches though.

They also have a free account if you do direct deposit, regardless of your balance.

And they don't charge a $5 fee for using your ATM card. They responded well to customer demand.

This guy telling you to go to a bunch of ultra-left websites to listen to their truth, don't bother. BOA will be as good a bank as you'll get in Lawrence.

In 2009 BOA also notified me that they were changing my fixed rate loan to a variable rate. When I asked them to point out exactly where in the contract they were granted the right to do so, they had no answer. I informed them I would be happy to sue them if they did and furthermore would seek class action certification. I received a lovely letter from them about two weeks later telling me how they had decided not to do so as a courtesy to their customers, despite the tough economic times they faced.

I don't think you're a drag on the economy, Bruce, just a drag. Why is it other disabled vets are able to overcome their disabilities and lead meaningful, productive lives? Does the world owe you something, Bruce?

The reason we served, Bruce, was to protect a way of life called freedom. Some of us returned unharmed physically and some of us didn't. None of us returned unchanged. Freedom carries an expensive price. Some of us gave more than others. Some of us never stop giving.